Adil Akhzer

Srinagar, July 20

Nearly three years after NATO withdrew from Afghanistan, weapons left by it are now increasingly making way to Kashmir.

Besides US-made M4 carbines, security forces have recently seized arms and ammunition from Austria and Turkey in Jammu and Kashmir.

After the Army foiled an infiltration bid at the Line of Control (LOC) in the Keran sector earlier this week, a Steyr AUG rifle, along with two magazines, was recovered from the militants. The Austrian bullpup assault rifle has been recovered in the Valley for the first time.

An senior security official told The Tribune that they were now witnessing an influx of new and modern weapons, which were earlier used by NATO.

“Some leftover weapons from the Afghan-NATO war are being pumped into the region,” he said.

A Valley-based counter-insurgency officer said the seizure of new type of weapons was “challenging” for the security forces, but agencies were “ready to tackle it”.

The officer said there had been an increase in the use of M4 rifles with night sights by militants. He, however, said AK assault rifles remained the most used and dangerous weapon.

Another significant addition, the sources said, was Turkish Canik TP9 pistols in Kashmir. Such pistols have been seized several times in the recent past, including in Sopore last month.

“As the pistols’ 9mm ammunition is easily available, it becomes easy for the terrorists to use,” he said.

Another Valley officer said the real challenge arose from the weapons having night vision. “These are deadly when it comes to ambushes,” he said.

The sources said some time ago, the security forces had seized a few Luger 9mm bullets in the Valley. Such bullets were designed by Austrian firearm designer Georg Luger in 1901.

“With modern weapons, terrorists have the upper hand at times,” the officer explained, adding that high-tech Glock and Beretta pistols, which were mostly used by the US and NATO forces, had also been recovered in Kashmir.

“What we are seeing slowly is that a lot of equipment left behind by the US and NATO is slowly finding its way into Kashmir… what we are seeing in Jammu is that terrorists seem to be well-trained. It is a challenge for security forces,” Lt Gen Deependra Singh Hooda (retd), former General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Army’s Northern Command told The Tribune.

“We also have good equipment, our soldiers are equipped with modern rifles. So yes, it is a challenge that needs to be dealt with, but should it worry us too much, I don’t think so,” he said.

The sources indicated there was a rise in militants’ presence in the Jammu region, but most of them were staying off the radar by using modern high-tech encrypted communication devices. A Chinese telecom handset — Ultra Set — was seized from two areas during anti-militancy operations recently.